Dungeness has been chosen as the home for the first Shannon class RNLI lifeboat in the south east, following an RNLI coast review.

A £1.5m Shannon class lifeboat and new launch and recovery equipment, costing around £850,000, will be paid for from legacy gift from Mrs Barbara Morrell. She left the RNLI a legacy worth over £6 million, requesting that it be left to fund a lifeboat for Kent.

The new lifeboat will be named The Morrell in memory of Mrs Morrell, her late husband Stanley, her brother-in-law Cyril, and her sister-in-law Patricia. The generous legacy gift also ensures the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of the lifeboat, together with subsequent replacement lifeboats for The Morrell.

The Shannon has been designed by RNLI naval architects who have harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure the new lifeboat meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service.

The Shannon Class Lifeboat

It's fitted with twin water jets instead of conventional propellers, allowing it to operate in shallow waters and be highly manoeuvrable – giving the crew greater control when alongside other craft and in confined waters. The water jets also reduce the risk of damage to the lifeboat during launch and recovery, or when intentionally beached. It will be the first RNLI all-weather lifeboat to run on water jets instead of propellers.

With a top speed of 25 knots, the Shannon is faster than its predecessor - the current Mersey class lifeboat based at Dungeness, which is capable of 17 knots. The introduction of the Shannon will be the first step in enabling the RNLI to fulfil its operation commitment to ensure that all its operational all-weather lifeboats have a top speed of 25 knots - a crucial factor when lives are at risk.

Like all RNLI all-weather lifeboats, the Shannon is self-righting and it will return to an upright position in the event of a capsize during extreme weather or sea conditions.

The new class of lifeboat will undergo full sea trials later this year, with the first operational Shannon class lifeboats going on station in 2013.

A family friend and executor Jackie Simmons said: ‘Barbara would have been overjoyed to know that her home county will benefit from her gift. She was an avid fan of the RNLI’s lifesaving work.’

Chris Ubee, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dungeness, said: ‘I am delighted that Dungeness has been chosen to receive the latest class of lifeboat. We are all really excited here at the station. We can’t wait for the trials of the new boat due to take place in early 2012.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©